Clinical Research Director Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Clinical Research Directors typically qualify for H-1B visa or O-1 visa sponsorship, as the role requires an advanced degree in life sciences, medicine, or a related field, meeting USCIS specialty occupation standards. Most sponsors are pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and academic medical centers. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Gerontologist Clinical Researcher
Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology
HMFP at BIDMC
Harvard Medical School
The Medicine Department at HMFP @ BIDMC is seeking a Gerontologist for a part-time clinical research position for our Boston location.
Job Requirements
- MD or DO from an accredited medical school
- Board-certified or eligible in Gerontology
- A valid MA medical license or the ability to obtain one
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
You will conduct high quality research related to geriatric oncology and related fields. We anticipate that you will apply for independent funding through federal, foundation, or other funding sources. In addition, we expect that you will disseminate your research findings through appropriate committees and division meetings within BIDMC, as well as at national meetings and through peer reviewed publications. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. With research funding totaling over $250 million, annually, BIDMC’s 2000+ researchers and staff run more than 2500 active clinical research studies in 52 areas of research.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a 743-bed hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, is a founding member of Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH). BILH, a health care system with 14 hospitals, brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, and more than 4,000 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (HMFP) is one of the largest physician organizations in New England, dedicated to excellence and innovation in patient care, education, and research. As a physician-led organization, HMFP partners with more than 2,400 providers to support the delivery of exceptional care, promote professional development and foster balance at work and home. HMFP physicians have faculty affiliations with Harvard Medical School (HMS) and provide care throughout BILH system and additional hospitals across Massachusetts.
For information about the position, please contact Brett Rubin: brubin@bidmc.harvard.edu. Candidates should apply directly to Workday.
Pay Range:
- $197,000 - $349,000
The base pay range reflects what Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (HMFP) reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this role at the time of posting and may be modified from time to time. Actual compensation within this range may be determined based on several factors, including academic appointment, work experience, specialty training, geography of work location, anticipated productivity, FTE basis, and role expectations. In addition to base compensation, this role may be eligible for performance-based incentives, which may include bonuses for productivity and quality. HMFP also offers a comprehensive and generous employee benefits program to eligible employees, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as retirement plan(s) with employer contributions.
Job Description:
Gerontologist Clinical Researcher
Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology
HMFP at BIDMC
Harvard Medical School
The Medicine Department at HMFP @ BIDMC is seeking a Gerontologist for a part-time clinical research position for our Boston location.
Job Requirements
- MD or DO from an accredited medical school
- Board-certified or eligible in Gerontology
- A valid MA medical license or the ability to obtain one
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
You will conduct high quality research related to geriatric oncology and related fields. We anticipate that you will apply for independent funding through federal, foundation, or other funding sources. In addition, we expect that you will disseminate your research findings through appropriate committees and division meetings within BIDMC, as well as at national meetings and through peer reviewed publications. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. With research funding totaling over $250 million, annually, BIDMC’s 2000+ researchers and staff run more than 2500 active clinical research studies in 52 areas of research.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a 743-bed hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, is a founding member of Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH). BILH, a health care system with 14 hospitals, brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, and more than 4,000 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (HMFP) is one of the largest physician organizations in New England, dedicated to excellence and innovation in patient care, education, and research. As a physician-led organization, HMFP partners with more than 2,400 providers to support the delivery of exceptional care, promote professional development and foster balance at work and home. HMFP physicians have faculty affiliations with Harvard Medical School (HMS) and provide care throughout BILH system and additional hospitals across Massachusetts.
For information about the position, please contact Brett Rubin: brubin@bidmc.harvard.edu. Candidates should apply directly to Workday.
Pay Range:
- $197,000 - $349,000
The base pay range reflects what Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (HMFP) reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this role at the time of posting and may be modified from time to time. Actual compensation within this range may be determined based on several factors, including academic appointment, work experience, specialty training, geography of work location, anticipated productivity, FTE basis, and role expectations. In addition to base compensation, this role may be eligible for performance-based incentives, which may include bonuses for productivity and quality. HMFP also offers a comprehensive and generous employee benefits program to eligible employees, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as retirement plan(s) with employer contributions.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Clinical Research Director Jobs
Target pharmaceutical companies and CROs first
Large pharma firms like Pfizer, Merck, and AstraZeneca, along with contract research organizations, sponsor Clinical Research Directors regularly and have established immigration infrastructure to process H-1B and O-1 visa petitions efficiently.
Lead with your IND and NDA experience
Employers prioritize candidates who have overseen FDA submission processes. Highlighting experience managing Investigational New Drug applications or New Drug Applications signals the level of seniority that justifies visa sponsorship for a director-level role.
An advanced degree strengthens your specialty occupation case
A master's or doctoral degree in clinical pharmacology, biostatistics, or a related field directly supports USCIS specialty occupation requirements. USCIS scrutinizes director-level clinical roles, so degree-to-role alignment is more important than for individual contributor positions.
O-1A is a realistic alternative if you have publications or leadership recognition
Clinical Research Directors with peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or roles leading multi-site Phase III trials often meet O-1A extraordinary ability criteria. This path bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and is worth evaluating with an immigration attorney.
Expect your employer to need an LCA before you can start
Your sponsoring employer must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor certifying the role meets prevailing wage requirements before petitioning USCIS. Factor three to four weeks for LCA certification into your start date negotiations.
Academic medical centers offer sponsorship with stronger green card pathways
Universities and hospital research centers frequently sponsor Clinical Research Directors and often support EB-1 or EB-2 NIW green card petitions for candidates with strong research records, which can reduce long-term immigration timelines significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Clinical Research Director role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, Clinical Research Director consistently qualifies as an H-1B visa specialty occupation because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as life sciences, medicine, or biostatistics. Most employers require a master's or doctoral degree, which strengthens the specialty occupation case further. USCIS approves H-1B petitions for this title at high rates when the degree-to-role connection is well-documented.
How competitive is the H-1B lottery for Clinical Research Directors?
The H-1B general lottery selects roughly 20 to 25 percent of registrations in recent years, which applies to Clinical Research Directors unless their employer qualifies as a cap-exempt institution. Academic medical centers, nonprofit research organizations, and government research facilities are often cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without entering the lottery. If you're targeting those employers, your odds improve substantially.
What degree does a Clinical Research Director need to get visa sponsorship?
Most sponsoring employers require a master's or doctoral degree in a clinical, scientific, or health-related field. A medical degree (MD or equivalent) also satisfies the requirement. A bachelor's degree may be sufficient at some organizations, but director-level roles typically demand graduate credentials, and a stronger degree makes USCIS approval more straightforward. Degrees in clinical pharmacology, medicine, nursing, biostatistics, or public health are the most commonly accepted.
Can a Clinical Research Director qualify for an O-1A visa?
Yes, and it's worth exploring seriously for this role. O-1A requires demonstrating extraordinary ability through criteria like peer-reviewed publications, original research contributions, high salary relative to peers, or judging others' work in the field. Clinical Research Directors who have led pivotal trials, authored published studies, or served on IRBs or FDA advisory panels often meet three or more criteria. O-1A has no lottery and no annual cap.
Where can I find Clinical Research Director jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate lists Clinical Research Director roles specifically filtered for visa sponsorship, so you're not manually sorting through postings that won't work for your situation. Pharmaceutical companies, CROs, academic medical centers, and biotech firms are the primary sponsors for this title. Filtering by employer type on Migrate Mate can help you prioritize organizations with established immigration programs.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Clinical Research Director jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.